"GOOOO!!!"
The runners burst out of the gates and run across the turf. The pack quickly settles into the usual position, but with just plenty more Pace Chasers than usual.
As predicted, I guess. A cage is being formed around McQueen. Although… There seems to be a wild actress amongst the players.
3 umamusumes form a line in front of McQueen, creating a barrier that she couldn't pass through. The cage would be perfect if only Gold City weren't there to hold an opening for the light purple-haired umamusume.
Gold City…
Gold City positioned herself on the outside right beside McQueen. She is running one step slower than the main actor, so there's always room for McQueen to escape.
"Hey Trainer, I know McQueen is being caged in, but the speed they're cruising isn't that far off from the speed McQueen's usual cruise in. Is that normal?"
"No… It's not normal, Teio."
The main reason for that is still Gold City.
Only the young man with his [Truth Seeing Eyes] and the runners know why. Gold City had captured all the participants' eyes, and now they're playing to her rhythm. If she speeds up, everyone speeds up. If she slows down, everyone slows down.
McQueen has gotten somewhat used to dealing with Gold City, but the same can't be said for the rest. For most of them, this is the first time they are running with Gold City, which is why her beauty works wonders on their psyche.
*Ding*
"...what skill is that?"
"Huh? What are you talking about, trainer?"
"No, it's nothing."
The young man was taken by surprise when Gold City received a hint of skill, but he was more taken aback when it was a skill that didn't exist in the Umamusume game before.
A unique skill? Did Cygames update their game? The presentation is different from the skills I'm used to. What is that?
The skill's name is [Track Queen]. A debuff skill that lets the user control the pace of the race. The problem is that it can only control the runners that are around the user in a 10-meter radius.
Whatever it is. I want that!
"Pant… Pant… Pant…"
I should have enough stamina to keep this speed until the last quarter of the race. After that, I can calmly slow down and let Mejiro take the lead.
Gold City's stamina might be comparable to McQueen's, but her speed is lower. This doesn't only mean that her top speed is lower than McQueen's, but also that her cruising speed is lower than McQueen's. The supermodel is burning through her stamina more than the main heroine.
"The pack is moving through the turf with little to no movement at all!!"
"It seems that everyone is waiting for the final stretch to make their moves!! We can only anticipate how explosive the ending will be!!"
For the sake of my future, I won't let you fail here!!
"They're entering the first corner!!"
"What's this!?! Number seven is moving forward!! She passed numbers one and two!!"
"Ooh!! Number one isn't letting that go!! There is some battle going on at the back of the pack!!"
Ignore them. Focus on yourself. Don't get rushed and waste your stamina. I won't–I refuse to lose!!
*Ding*
Her stamina has recovered a little bit. I don't think that was necessary given how uneventful her run has become, but having more stamina isn't bad either.
McQueen wasn't breaking a sweat with the speed the pack is travelling. The stamina she regained from her skill almost makes up for all the stamina she lost during the early race. That's just how slow the cruising speed is compared to her top speed.
I would love it if they could run faster, but I suppose that is the point of caging, huh?
The final corner is here. Time to end this all!!
*STOMP*
"!!!!!"
Golf City stomps her feet with everything she has. This causes the hypnotized runners to believe they're approaching the final straight and to start running faster. McQueen was the only one unaffected by Gold City's trick, so she lagged a little behind, which gave her the chance to escape the cage.
"OH!! The number four has slithered herself out of the pack and onto the front!!"
"Everything has crumbled!! Everyone is making their moves!! Don't blink now or you'll miss the champion!!"
Hahaha… I did it… Now with this, Mejiro will win.
Gold City smiled with relief as she saw the light purple-haired umamusume run to the front. Her task is complete, and now she can relax. She doesn't care if she comes last.
I never considered myself winning the Derby anyway. I'm already satisfied with how—
"KEEP RUNNING, GOLD CITY!!!"
"HAH!?!?"
Gold City was deep in contemplation when the yell of a certain young man brought her back to reality. She quickly lifted her head to where the noise was coming from and locked eyes with the red-haired young man.
"IS THIS HOW YOU WANT YOUR RACE TO END?!?! KEEP RUNNING!!! COME ON!!!!"
"Dar…ling…"
"WHY DID YOU TRAIN SO HARD?!?! JUST TO SURRENDER?!?! FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR OWN GOAL, KEEP RUNNING TILL THE END!!"
"..."
"EVEN IF YOU HAVE LOST HOPE IN YOURSELF, I HAVE NOT LOST HOPE IN YOU AND NEVER WILL!!"
"..."
"GOLD CITY, YOU'RE A GREAT RUNNER!! NOTHING CAN MAKE ME DOUBT THAT!!"
"Darling… Kuh!!"
Gold City clenches her teeth, tightens her fists, and looks forward once again. She hasn't realized that her head had been looking down the entire race. Only now can she see her goal ahead of her.
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!!!!"
"THE NUMBER TEN IS BREAKING THROUGH!!! SHE IS BLAZING FORWARD TO MEET THE NUMBER FOUR!!"
Come, Gold City. I'll give you a front row seat to my coronation.
McQueen had been purposefully keeping a constant distance from the group. She was waiting for the sidechick to catch up with the real one, so she could show her who the young man really belongs to.
*Ding*
"AND THEY'RE BLAZING THROUGH THE FINAL CORNER AND TO THE FINAL STRETCH!!!"
"THE PACK IS BREAKING UP, BUT CAN ANY OF THEM CATCH UP TO THE DUO UP FRONT!!!"
"NUMBER FOUR AND TEN KEEP ON MOVING FORWARD!! NOTHING IS GOING BETWEEN THEM NOW!!"
"KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN CAUSE THIS WILL SURELY BE A BREATHTAKING FINISH!!"
"I'M TAKING YOUR POSITION, MCQUEEN!!!"
"KNOW YOUR PLACE!!!"
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!"
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!"
"FIVE!! FOUR!! THREE!! TWO!! OOOOOONNNNEEEEE!! AND WE HAVE A WINNER!!!"